A Fine Cast Bronze Heraldic Crest of a Lion

In the form of a lion passant, facing dexter, standing on a torse. The patination, condition, detail and quality all suggest the lion dates from the 18th century and is believed to be Scottish. Mounted upon a display board patinated and polished within D moulded borders and with a cast iron hanging bracket.
Height 22” (56cm) Width 25.5” (65cm)
One of two, offered individually.
Stock No. 1194

The lion is oft used as a charge in heraldry, regarded as the king of the beasts and traditionally symbolising bravery, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness, and valour.

Two Scottish families are recorded as using a crest, emblazoned with a lion passant on a torse, one being that of Sir George Stirling of Glorat, Stirlingshire, created in 1666. Crest - a lion passant, gu. Motto - Semper fidelis. Stirling, Sir Samuel, of Glorat, co. Stirling; as 7th baronet, upon the decease of his father; m. in 1843, Mary-Anne only dau. of Major Robert Berrie. Lineage: The founder of this family, Sir John Stirling of Glorat, received the honour of knighthood in 1430, and is said to have been armour-bearer to King James 1 of Scotland. He was also governor of Dumbarton Castle, and sheriff of the county of Dumbarton. Sir John obtained the lands of Glorat as a dowry with his wife, the daughter of Laird of Galbraith, and was s. by his son, William Stirling, of Glorat, governor of Dumbarton Castle and sheriff of Dumbarton; from whom lineally descended. 1. Mungo Stirling, Esq. of Glorat, who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1666, and was s. by his son.

Another possibility is that of John de Betune (bore, azure, on a chief argent a lion passant gules), which appears on the Dering Roll (c1270): Beton, Beaton, Betton, and Betune, (a lion, passant, sa. Fortis in Arduis). Arms of the Bethune family of: Argent, a fesse gules. The French House of Béthune, or House of Bethune dates back to about 1000 CE, traditionally Lords of the town and castle of Béthune. Later branches included hereditary princes, dukes, marquesses, counts, viscounts and barons as well as cardinals and archbishops. The early Bethunes in Scotland date to around 1192. A charter of Lindores Abbey mentions Robert de Bethune, probably Robert VI (died 1193) of the Artois family. Before 1210 the cartulary of Arbroath Abbey records a cleric John de Bethune. From then on the names of clerics and knights called Bethune occur increasingly in Scottish records, mainly in the counties of Angus and Fife. The knight Sir Alexander de Bethune died fighting for the Bruce legitimists against the Balliol rebels at Dupplin Moor. Tradition makes him the father of Robert, who married the heiress of Balfour. The Bethune / Beaton family in Scotland became hereditary rulers of Balfour, the ruling Lord was known as Bethune of Balfour and later Beaton of Balfour, (as the Beaton form of the name became more popular).